George William Boyce

A Private with the 7th Battalion, George died on 21st of March 1918 at the age of 28. 

George was born at Lowestoft on 9 June 1890, a son of George William and Lavinia Ann Boyce. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 28 September 1890 and his family lived at 8 Church Road. By 1901 George's father had died and his family lived at Chain Cottages, 8 Church Road. By 1911 his family were living at 4 Fir Terrace, Oulton, and later his mother lived at 79 Lawson Road, Kirkley.

George enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. Initially he served with the Middlesex Regiment, number 26922. Subsequently he was transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and was posted to the 7th Battalion. 

On 21 March 1918 the 7th Battalion were in the Vendeuil Sector and there was a heavy bombardment of the forward area, Liez Village with Vieville, Vivier Quenet and Verger Woods being heavily gassed. As dawn broke it became clear that the Battalion had been outflanked on both sides. With support from artillery and 150 dismounted cavalrymen the battalion were able to hold their positions. George was one of seventeen men of the Battalion killed on that day.  

George's brother, Augustus, died in 1917 when his trawler was sunk by a mine.